Former Senator Shehu Sani has come under fire from social media users for defending former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode over his redeployment as Nigeria's ambassador-designate to South Africa. Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the Senate from 2015 to 2019, sparked controversy when he dismissed claims that Germany had rejected Fani-Kayode's earlier ambassadorial posting.
Sani's Defence of Fani-Kayode
The former lawmaker posted on X that he was aware Fani-Kayode personally requested to be moved from Germany to South Africa for what he described as purely personal reasons. I am fully aware that Chief Fani Kayode was the one who requested that his posting to Germany be changed to South Africa. His reason for the request is purely personal, Sani wrote on Thursday.
His statement followed an earlier announcement by Fani-Kayode that President Bola Tinubu had approved his redeployment to South Africa after initially assigning him to Germany. In a statement shared on his official X account, the former minister explained that he approached then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, requesting the change because he had spent most of his life in Europe and preferred serving in South Africa.
Fani-Kayode's Explanation
Fani-Kayode added that he was attracted to South Africa due to its pan-African outlook, economic strength, and diplomatic alignment with some of his foreign policy beliefs. He also denied reports that Germany rejected his nomination, describing such claims as false, malicious, and intended to damage his reputation.
Tinubu had announced ambassadorial postings on March 6, 2026, with Fani-Kayode originally designated for Germany. However, reports later surfaced alleging that German authorities declined to accept the appointment over controversial past comments linked to ethnicity and religion. Although no official confirmation emerged from the German government, the reports generated intense debate across political and social media circles.
Social Media Backlash
Reacting to Sani's defence of the former minister, several X users accused the ex-senator of attempting to justify what they described as an embarrassing diplomatic controversy. One user identified as Delson wrote, Please, stop. Can you please stop the lies? Fani Kayode was rejected full stop.
Another user, nnaAmDyy, questioned the explanation surrounding the redeployment, saying, Wasn't it the same man who was rejected by Germany for his online antecedents? A commenter with the handle Alaso also mocked the situation, writing, So he can decide or request which country he wants to serve as ambassador?
Another X user, Vernon Lent, criticised politicians he described as pretenders, alleging that some public figures were misleading Nigerians over the matter. The controversy has continued to trend online, with many users debating the circumstances surrounding the ambassadorial reshuffle and Nigeria's diplomatic image abroad.
Broader Diplomatic Concerns
Fani-Kayode's redeployment to South Africa comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant sentiments in the country, where Nigerians and other African nationals have repeatedly faced harassment and violence in recent years. The attacks have at different times strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa, prompting calls for stronger protection of foreign nationals living in the Southern African country.
The ongoing debate highlights the sensitivity of diplomatic appointments and the scrutiny they face in the public eye, especially when they involve high-profile figures with controversial pasts.
